Power Disguised In Weakness And Brokenness

The Contrite Heart

When a person goes before the Father to confess their sins, their failures and weaknesses, they are admitting that they are human and in need of forgiveness. True confession is painful, but when they do, "He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

The Bible says to, "confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16 NIV). Confession is agreeing with God and others that one has sinned. “Confessing” sins is taking responsibility and acknowledging that you were wrong, then asking for forgiveness.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart -- These, O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17 NKJV)

The word “contrite” is only found in four Bible passages (See Psalm 34:18; 51:17; Isaiah 57:15; 66:2). Etymologically the word implies a breaking of something that has become hardened. To be contrite is to be broken, crushed, and pulverized into little pieces, setting one free from rebellion and resistance to His will. The Bible says that “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 NIV).

Contrition is that humble spirit that says, I am nothing, and He is everything. It is that inner brokenness that weeps over sin and sinners. This breaking doesn’t come about as a result of apologetic sorrow for a wrong committed or remorse of conscience, or fear of hell - it is experiencing the pain and sorrow of brokenness caused when a person stands naked and exposed before the one “whose name is holy” and recognize it is Jesus who has been grievously offended.

The Bible says that not only does God “live in a high and holy place,” but also with “him who is contrite and lowly in spirit” (Isa 57:15 NLT). Having a contrite heart means there is the absence of personal pride and the absolute exaltation of God and His will. It is recognizing that one's righteousness is “as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV). God promises to esteem the one who is humble and contrite in spirit and to revive their heart (See Isaiah 57:15).

Having a contrite heart does not come by force of will. It comes to the one that “trembles” and has a reverence for God’s Word (See Isaiah 66:2). When a person obeys His Word, they prove they love Him;

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (John 14:21 NIV)

A Heart of Flesh

When a person repents with a contrite heart, God “will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.” He will give them a “new heart and put a new spirit in you,” and He will “remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:25-27 NIV).

This is the only way that a person will be able to love God with their whole strength (See Luke 10:27). Brokenness will lead them to hatred and horror of sin and will grow so strong that they will desire with all their heart to stop sinning.